PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) today announced it has reached an
agreement to divest its 51 percent interest in Transitions Optical to
Essilor International, which currently holds a 49 percent interest in
the venture.

Currently, all Transitions Optical sales are consolidated in PPG’s financial statements. Essilor’s minority share of the joint venture’s net earnings is reflected as a reduction to PPG’s net income and presented in the financial statements as “income attributable to non-controlling interests”. Upon receipt of regulatory approvals, PPG expects to account for Transitions Optical as discontinued operations.

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)

PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. Sales in 2012 were $15.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

About Essilor:

The world’s leading ophthalmic optics company. Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its corporate mission is to enable everyone around the world to access lenses that meet his or her unique vision requirements. For more information, visit www.essilor.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements about PPG Industries, Inc., that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These matters involve risks and uncertainties as discussed in PPG’s periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and its current reports on Form 8-K filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements about the expected effects on PPG and Transitions Optical of the agreement by PPG to sell its 51 percent interest in Transitions Optical and its sunlens business to Essilor (the “Transaction”), the anticipated timing and benefits of the Transaction, the anticipated deployment by PPG of the proceeds of the Transaction and the timing of such deployment, PPG’s anticipated financial results, and all other statements in this news release that are not historical facts. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words “targets,” “plans,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “likely,” “may,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “positioned,” “strategy,” “future,” or words, phrases or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements.